LIVING CONDITIONS IN LATVIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A044100380001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 19
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 5, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: September 15, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

.INFORMATION REPORT INFORMATION REPOR
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws;: Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohiblteed-by law.
COUNTRY USSR (Latvian SSR)
REFiORT
SUBJECT Living Conditions in Latvia DATE DISTR. /f September '1958
NO. PAGES
REQUIREMENT
NO.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
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RD
DFFINITIVF_ APPRAISAL OF CONS
C., GORY" 25X1
an 18-page report on general conditions, in Latvia up to - c o er .
.Although this report contains much information which has already been reported,
it may be of value as a summary.of conditions with specific.examp]s of
significant activities useful for comprehension of day-to-day life.in
Latvia.
STATE ARMY NAVY. AIR FBI AEC
(Note: Washington distribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
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(ONF ETA L
GENERAL CONDITIONS INLATVIA_FROM_SUMMER_195-5-TO _ -OCTOBER 1956
r Although the population of Riga is usually given by official Soviet
sources as 500,000, it is actually about 1,000,000. This assertion is
based on statements of high officials of the Latvian Ministry of State
Control, and on calculations of the Public Education Office of the Riga
City Administration. At least half of the residents of Riga,- including
at most about
'-litary,- are of--Russian--origin.- -Latvians-comprise - 30 per.r cent
. -pf the-population of _Riga._ thenumber-of-Latvians in 25X1
and may perhaps be too low. Most of the Russians are in Riga and other
large cities, such as Daugavpils, where a considerable number of Russians
lived even before the Soviet occupation of Latvia,,Liepaja, Ventspils, and
lelgava. In rural areas, the number of Russian residents is infinitesimal;
they -are-found tnly iri-the Machine=tractor stations- as--Fell as in leading
positions in-kolkhozy-and-Soviet-enterprises. A deliberate colonization
_ f the country with Russians is not apparent as_yet. The unusually large
increase in Russians in the cities is perhaps less a colonization-measure
than a result of the rapid industrialization of the country. In Estonia.
--in Vi1-jandi---and -Val-ga---du-ring-visits-to-those- cities.-On- the--other hand,
the-n4mber_.ofRussians in_ Lithuania-_ is considerably-higher than in Latvia.
I
only Tallinn and the oil shale area nave a lot of Russians. Russians are
the number of Russians is noticeably smaller than in Latvia. Actually,
Concerning relations beteen Latvians and Russiand, it is difficult
to regain oneself from saying that relations are hostile. Even after 12
years of Soviet occupation, no tolerable cohabitation has come about.
he Latvians consider the Russians as intruders, every individual Russian,
even when he doesn't belong th the ruling class. Even with little chil-
-dren this--antagonism-shows-up even in families where the relationship to
the.-Russians, for understandable-reasons, is-never mentioned in conversa-
tion. The Russians consider themselves a master race, and behave accord-
--
ingly--particularly the ordinary classeso are arrogant and insulting.
CONFIDENP pears that d1fff relations- nationalities also disturbfi the 25X1
- &__
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LGV
authorities now. There are indications that 494* Russians in high positions
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are attempting to suppress nationalism among the masses and to held down fur-
ther penetration of Russian elembnbs.Lnto the country.
in 1956 a decree was issued to the effect that
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in entrance examtnations for the institute, immigrants from other republics
1would be- given-as-much- difficulty--as -possible-in- their attempts to enter the
i.nstitute. There are rumors_that_it is _f orbidden- to register newly immigrated
Russians with the Riga police. It should be noted that the registration with
the police is not taken very seriously , and it is said that there are many
residents of Riga who have not been registered. Rumors say that there are
about a million people in Moscow who are not registered. There are also
[attempts to meet the L tvians halfwgy as far as langu$ge is concerned. Latvian
--officially-takes-precedence over Russian,--but--in--actual practice-it's a dif-
ferent matter. -_ Without--knowledge- of _Russian,_a-person can accomplish nothing
generally
in dealing with officials, as the Russians running the offices/understand no
Latvian. There is an order that Russians employed in Latvia must learn Latvian
but this order is simply by the Russians. Petitions and requests
3
may be sent to governmental agencies in Latvian, eten in Moscow and other
1Soviet pities, without objection, but tbre answers are always in Russian.
POPULAR SENTIMENT, RESISTANCE
-- - - - - - -- -belief
The Latvian segment of the population of Latvia lives in the kmq= that
pow making-itself it
-liberation- from the Soviet yoke will come about some day. Only this hope
makes the -despair of the -present--bearable - -, a ooa ~ resignation is
hope for liberation. In addition,_there_is_the clever-Soviet propaganda.
One is certain that this propaganda is a bunch of lies, but after constant
reworking of the same themes, something always.a in ' head, /`"o there
s now a noticeable dwindling of faith in Western assistance. One gradually
oses the belief that the free world will make some move or at least help
katvia free itself from the Soviet yoke.- - To- some extent; this is a result of
I
--,--Soviet -propaganda,--which--presented--the events -in- East Berlin in 1953 and Pox
nan in 1956 so that- it -appeared that the Western -Powars, especially the US,
t
A ' Acriitia n left the insurgents in the lurch.
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CONFIDENT 3
Such stories are believed)= is not conducive to fixing confidence in
the Western Powers. an increase in such feeling ~ is
to-be-expected l1 - 25X1
V%Win Latvia after the events in Hungary LatviansiAktterly
assert that the Western Powers use military means when their economic interest
~+.~v .uavvs.vvu, vuv N11LJ to u11c1110V_LVVM W.Luil CX~J1'C.`3r`1
a-matter-o-f-the-struggle-for--freedom-of-a-people:
_ __ _--The_-decreased_confidence_in-the-Western-Rowers- has not resulted in abandon
ment of hope for liberation and bowing down to the oppressors. The feeling is
that, if no aid is to be expected from the Western Powers, we must undertake
to free ourselves, as soon as favorable conditions present themselves. In this
regard too, there are no illusions. Such an uprising as that in Hungary is no
how possible in Latvia, as conditions are much less favorable in Latvia. The
r otentia-l-force-of such-an-uprising-in-L-atvia-would-be-tfie--urban-workers-=st-
who-are most sharply_in_oppo.sition to the_Bolshevik,-and_ the-students. -The
farmers count almost fo nothing, as there are_practically_none but
old persons, children, and women on the farms. Action by the workere could ex
pect success only if whole plants revolt' but there are now a large number of
Russian workers in all plants, and the relationship tween the Russiand and
Latvians 1i such that the former would hardly support such an action by the
Latvian- workers -Besides; Latvia Yias rio real army,- for the so\ a1Ted -Latvian
can
Division is-so_-saturated-with--Russians that -it -0-hardl-y be considered a
national unit.
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has
There is nothing to indicate that the resistqnce movement xmdA become
more active in Latvia. There.are no doubt small resistance groups present in
the country, but in the course of the past year they have not made an appear-
ance. Partisan groups are still present here and there, especially in the
?- woods-- of-north-ern Latvia. --However; they are only-small,- scattered
---group s_whose--days-are--numbered.--The-g-roues*sre-practically meaningless, and
nothing is heard about any sort of activity on the.ir._part._-Neither_is there_
ord of mopping-up actions by the police
In autumn 1955
.
,
woods as partisand for a long time came out of the woods., both armed with pis-
s,. and MMEft tmrned themselves in by telephone to the local office.
-They were disarmed, ri after a few days,25XVase
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was prodiding them with food, was not
oth are said to work In a kolkhoz. The. father of one of the partisans, who
to justice. That is
not to say that partisans wbo surrender are not punishedp-7+but it did happen in
this case. Until recently, partisans received a quite summary trial, even whe
they had invitations tm give themselves up, without punishment,
the-patiisana in-Dobele--had been invited-to give th
selves up, with- guara*Rtees .bKat-they would--not be. punished.-- When they gave
FOREIGN RADIOTBROADCASTS
themselves up, they were all executed.
l1 , Lately, there has been a
decrease in the number of persons listen-
ing to foreign radio broadcatts. This decreased interest is the result of
two things. First, the activity of the jammer is now more effective than it
was-formerly.- Therefore,--transmissions-are-received acceptably in Riga only
.during the night..--Occasionally the-transmissions of VOA about 2045 hours, as
well as Tangiers, at the same time, are audible without interference. BBC is
best heard in morning on long wave. Listening at night is quite
- -- -- -
-a--bit--more
difficult than during the day. In the countryside jamming is not as effective,
but since many places do not have electic current, battery radios are necess-
ary. Such batteries are hard to=emawr. Another reason for the lagging in-
terest is tjre general---dissatisfaction-with-programs--of--foreign--broadcasts. -
The -programs- are-severel-y-criticized.- -- The--feeling -is thatij--since listening an
tails so many difficulties, and also a--certain'amount of risk, a person would
like to hear what really interests him, and that is, first of all, objective
information on world events. The BBC broadcasts therefore are preferred.
`7.INo one cares to hear propaganda, as everyone feels that the Russians will take
care of the job of making themselves unpopular. Neither does anyone cafe for
church services, speeches; or declamations but synopses of world events, and
above all--news, are -desired. - -Also- of--interest -would--be a series of lectures
concerning the earnings of various occupational - groups in tore free world,
and what can be purchased with those earnings. It would be desirable to in-
trthduce the transmissions with some sort of signal, such as a sign-off melody,
in order to allow time to tune in the set.
?FIDENTI
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(UNhLL%M I Oru
Events inthe Soviet Union and Satellites would also be of interest, as such
news is, withheld by Soviet newspapers. Now and then such news is received fro
travelers who have come from other parts of the USSR. In such a manner, res-
idents of Riga were Fairly well informed concerning events in Georgia in the
spring of 1956. Travelers from Georgia described large student demonstrations,
in which-Stalin's picture was carried by the students. The unrest-lasted for
several
F-~-days, and-travel- -in---and-out--of--Georgia was- halted-- for- a -few-days.
THE PARTY
Lately, the recruitment of new Party members had noticeably decreased.
On the other hand, Party instruction.in Marxism-Leninism in various courses,
____ -had-been--
Party schools, and night universities, which 7 treated much lighter last
year than it was bedore, was again given increased attention. Instruction
iri the night universities a n d-Party schools has been somewhat shortened, but -
the-instruction-has---been intensif-ied,-and--a close- check is-kept-to--see that -all
who_must underrsn--ana+.,-?r+ao~n _really do_so._ There have- been no-important-per-
sonnel changes in the Party hierarchy in the past year. In Party circles, it
is said that opposition sentiments are growing among youger Party members.
The opposition is directed againstbthe present Party leadership, and partic-
ularly agqinst the Party4Secretary, Kalnberzins, who is accused of spineless-
with ens:.
ness and alltp-ready compliance Moscow the Stalin era. Kalnberzins is
ra -rather-uneducated-man-who- -cannot -even -write-his- own speeches.,-and and appears to
have suffered a good deal lately. He-is said to have eye trouble and a bone
be_losing his following-for- the-most -part.-It- is also known that a tense sit-
health of the
uation exists between him and Prime Minister Lacis; the latter is said to
disease, supposedly of syphilitic origin.
Just a few days after the close of the 20th Party Congress in Moscow, rumors
Latvian Party had received the complbte text of the Khrushchev tpeech. It was
kept secret and deposited in the Central Committee safe. Party members were
his policies, A high Party- official stated that the Central Committee of the
mimeographed
g-ress, -a-f-ter-many-delegates-had-l-eft Moscowi#in-which-h-e-attacked-Sta-l-in and
circulated- in--Riga -that ushchev had-made a ~ -speech --toward the end of the con-
loaned the document onl t or~tjt was given
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I cuNFIDENTIAL
a#-
to Party functionaries who had to explain Ythfc?newParty'lrie_:at the-plant
. -
assemblies and meetings which were quickly called together. The dethroning of
Stalin was met with generfl jubilation, only a few Russians being upset. The
removal of Stalin's portraits was undertaken at first with enthusiasm and pub-
cly. In some troop units in Riga, the pictures were taken out of the barrack
11
-a lessiconspicuous.mannerx. On the corner of Gorki iela-Kirov iela opposite the
HQ of the Baltic is an empty square, where MONO houses damaged
war stood formerly, on which larger-than-life-size portraits of Stalin and
and-piled-up-In some kolkhozy-the-pictures were carried-by-z-procession of
all the kolkhozniki to- the nearest- river-and- thrown-in. -- After abouta minth,
the tempo of portrait removal d3mmanamA let uP.,__44_Ctbe__pictures -disappeared in
Lenin had been erected. Every spring these pictures were taken down to be re-
_^ furbished. In spring 1956,-this was one, but when the pictures were put back
----up ,-Stalin'-s-picturewas-replaced-t&-th-that--of--Karl -Marx.--Stalin's-picture -
is still seen in some official offices.- _
Zhukov is undoubtedly the most popular of the present leading Soviet
figures. Among Russians in Latvia, Bulganin and Khrushchev also enjoy a ver-
genera-1 -- - - - -- - -
tain popularity, as theme view is that they represent a moderate policy, in
A aggressive Stalinist line~_
contrast with the other Party presidium members, who are said to stand for 4
LOA I
the -Central--Committee-of -the -Latvian Party
re ar y and
4receives detailed reports of the PSUJthe
-sessions--of the Central. Committee~
USSR Council of Ministers, in which all debates, as well as personal squabbles of the participants, are reported fully..
the basement of the h6use in which the CC/CILa'tvia meets, on Gorkil iela.
a~~owvww~"ee~..
of the ware shown
films there which are not made available to the general public. ,-
a movie projection room has been established. embers
- Automobi-l-e--license-numbers-of-the-Party-elite have been cti~nged this year:
Instead-of_the two_zer-oes-which-stood in front-ofthe-number-previously axe-
J;h ufdbers "99". The basis of the change is said to be the fact that
are
people were shocked to see the two zeroes which/generally used to identify
toilets on the front of a license number.
POLICE
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CONFIDENTIAL
The let-up in police terror which followed the fall of Beriya, is still
__,trust --the__peaceful_conditions__entir_ely_,_as_ they _are_-aware -that a -return
U the old state of affairs can happen any minute. There are even some Latvia^
who have taken a milder attitude toward the Russians. More and more, one hears
in effect. There are no signs at present that the reinswill be tightened.
Gradually people are becoming accustomed to existence as it was somewhat
earlier; and especially Ft Russian are-now-be-ginning-to speak more freely,
- and--to-make-criticisms.----L-atvians-are-generally-more cautious,-and-still don't
use In a restaurant a who - - - --- ~ - - - -- - __ _ _
-- -- --
previously. , man wh had to wait too long for service
the address begin with "Mr." or "Mrs.", as well as the "Comrade" which has been
pounded on the table and shouted," I was an SS man. how lone mhst I wait ht-rn
without any action being taken against him.
or-service?" 19 ----That is- surely an
--ceptional- case;-on-the-other-hand,-one-often-hears Russian veterans stating
their dissatisfaction publicly, eg.,_"I am a veteran and have several medals,
but what good does my heroism do me if my wife and children have to
go hungry?"
The reduction in perso) of the KGB and MVD continues. The KGB is not as
_ ' -_ _.._ --__ ~---t, -- ++vaaiaa ____ . 41 VU ._ .L11 1616
ever has a ligkited window zfter 1800-hours; althou:gci only z couple"-of years
-~go-the-windows-were-lighted well-into the night-.-It-is-also-striking that--one.
never sees Jews in KGB uniforms anymore, tho here were many-of them previously
- ---- Jews i --- ---
- militiamen--in--cities -will be- reduced-j--and- that- all--of themh-will- be required to
ossibly they are to be found among the plainclothesmen, since the latter are
-
-
- _ --- - -- - "" - -- --- - '-- r---~_~.. .. ,. ,..../ ..aav vaava vaav vvwr7 YYG1 c t G~
_
- _ _ _ - - _- _ . _ .. _.. ~.~~ .. ... ~.r ......aa. ?. aav vy\.vaviv uGlii G 6a7G
in militia perso A also is apparent. In the countryside a militiaman is sel,
dom-seen- although they are surely present. It is- sid that the-riumber of
Formerly every plant and factory was guarded by a special guard force.
ave _ a middle -school._educ.ation._
his force has been replaced entirely by the militia. The plants pay the
militia a certain sum to guard the factories. The militia guards wear militia
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uniforms. This measure is a result of the desire of o cix]: o'' to sen
-l_ ( 1f VxW; flAL 25X1
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that all militiamen discharged freduction in force--are -pro-vided jobs.,
A result is a significant increase in the number of guard personnel. The
Radio Factory i/n Popov
formerl{ was guarded by 20 persons
previously, and the present militia guard employs about twice that numher.
Apparently the purging of the security forces of unsuitable elembnts is
continuing. In-winter-of 195-5=56; @T-truckload of uniformed security-police
was observed__going-into the railroad--station-in-Riga; they-were-under guard -
and shipped out of Riga.
DEPORTATION AND RETURNEES FROM DEPORTATION
No mass deportations have been caiiied out for a yearsof,. nd occasional
arrests of individuals, which still occur, are rather rare. At least little
is now heard about such things. On the other hand, return of deportees who
1-eft in-l-9La1 and-afterwarc-is continuing.-In relation to the thousands who
-_ were deported, the number-of-returnees is-sl-fight; but-one-is--continually meet-
ing individual deportees who have just returned._.It__ appears- that- there.-are
not as many amnestied returnees now, as there are individuals who have been
released because special investigative commissions have found that they were
illegally sentenced. It 1.lso happens sometimes that both reasons for release-
amnesty and acquittals, or review, are used. The previous social democratic
---wommrepresentative-F-tiieridets,-had part of-his sentence cancelled as illegal
__- (possession of-K.-Kautski'-.s-works}, -andth-e-rest amnestied. Among the other
returnees are other well-known perso
of Propaganda, A. Berzins
such-As--the-wife-of-the former Minister
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of police of Liepaja, Saberts, and others.
Rumors have been heard in Riga to
the effect that the former Minister of - War, Balodis, did not, e in
the summer of 1956, but is ljpving free in the city of Vladimir. The former
A
Foreign-Min ster V. and-his wife, are also living there. Th alodis
reside in
_and Munters-receive-pensions-of-500-tubles-per-month,-they may-not uU* Latvia
and can visit Latvia for_only-
weeks_annuall,which-both-did in-summer--1-956-
rumors to the effect that everyone in Latvia avoided the
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rettnees, in order not to attract suspicion to themselves. Such is in no way
the case. Neither is there any rule against employing returnees in plants
CONFIDENJ and factories; it is expressly fmrbidden for plants and factories to refuse to
- - -- -- - I individuals - - it having been deported. 25X1
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any case, some other basis. always given for refusal to hire an individ-
ual. The stamping of passes of returnees differs in various camps. In some
camps, a notation is made in the pass regarding the time served in
campy and in others, no notation is made. There are also cases in which
-returnees-visit Latvia-and-then d--back to-the place to which they were de orte
P A
- 1aving-established---a-pl-ace--for-themselves-there,--and--having little chance of
acquiring employment
CRIMES
in Latvia,
which was - unusually great -
The insecurity of the streets of Riga/during the past summer,._M where
submachine guns--which were Initiated in summer 1956, However, it is said that
.personal property rights,-such. as th.eft_-and_embezzlement.,-..have increased rather.
he-patrols -are forbidden to --use- the--weapons, -The- number-of -other-violations o
e
up some-
at..-_In_traffic violations.,- .n-the-streets-or--in-cars..,-document control-takes-
suitcases
suitcases
lace, but a person can carry large through the streets without being
stopped although this was not the case durin the summe
summer-1-956: Cont-ro-l-of-dmcuments-in-th-e-stre-ets-also-has l
t
g
g p p n gums owever, the rail
oad bridges outside Riga which were guarded previously, were not guarded
i
The guarding of bridges in Riga by members of the border troops still goes
The same holds for
uardin of the over la t K _ H
EW BUILDING FOR THE KGB
wilding al most,,~compieted. At wasrbui1l fir the EKG , ah is suM>dsed" t'o b4
Opposite the KGB building on~St/alin` ie~.a in'"Rika, is'a large, five-story
'P
._ r---- ---. J -d, i..r -W KLd1Vv -a N-ld -D 1U Wd. .
his improvement is 4OW to patrols--a militia.n with two soldiers armed with
n
--diving- quarters-for-the-`KGB- workers: -
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AUTOMOBILE TRANSPORTATION
The automobile inspection system under the MVD is one of the most corrupt
institutions in Latvia. Since 1955 an extensive reform program has been going
on employment of-specialists.,--and it-is--planned to institute a requirement
that all inspectors have college education. Although the-reformcannot be
considered completed, conditions in the auto inspection system have already
improved considerably. For example, it is now practically impossible to get
on, on the higher level as well as the technical level. The chief of auto
inspection was -replaced with -a less=corrupt -official. There is- now an emphasi
a driver's license by bribing the officials. However, one can still get a certifi-
cate of technical examination of an auto for 100 rubles, without
tpresenting-the vehicle--'--
The technical-examination-,which--still-takes-place once a year, has been
made a good dell stiffer.- Examiners-no longer- are_satisfied.with a cursory.
~the slightest defect, such as
look at a vehicle noting/missing windshield wipers or chipped paint as bases
for refusing to approve a vehicle. They now get into the car and, drive a few
kilometers to see how the vehicle functions. Examination by auto inspectors
also takes place on roads and highways much more frequently this year than in
iia previous years. The inspectors are not limited to
certain places, but are
found almost-anyplacej
.
-------
st- year- -there-was initiated-an--official--but-unpublished decree that every
car owner must set aside a fuel reserve sufficient for Billing kkK a car tank
on orders
once. This decree is said to have been issued of the military.
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There has been a considerable decrease in the number of automobiles-at the
vice ministers and
department heads, as before, and directors of very large concerns are provided
disposition of officials; pnly the ministers, no* longer
official vehicles,4couldbe seen in fai arge numbers in the kola oz markets
-"few thousand workers, probably 5;000: The d rector of-of Popov radio factory,
official automobiles. The't;ight of a factory director to an official car
depends on the number of workerE in the plant, and there m;tst be at least a
-- i ich has--l-ess- than 5,000-workers,-has--no- official-car.--The chief --reason for -
this measure is the lack of
1 chauffeurs, but the _extremely_ large volume -ouse
of official vehicles for pe.rsonal nurnoses may a1 sn hi- a fen+.nr- Pm.tr4 niIcl zr
Qf Riga and/provincial towns--wives of directors doing their marketing.
i, The quote of cars for sale in'Riga is still the same, 600 Moskvich and 250
-Pobeda$ annually -and-the-number-of-people-ori the-list-of-prospective buyers
'
incr-ases--ever-yyear-.--It--is-not--sur-prising,--as_
the-Zavod malotitrazhnykh- avto-
mobiley in _Moscow,_which produces the_Moskvich,--never dxceeds 130 cars per day.
The. new Moskvich model costs 15,000 rubles, compared with 9,000 before, hnti
improvements on the car are not of a nature to justify such a price rise.
The cost price of the new Moskvich is said to be 30,000 rubles, while the -
The new Pobeda costs 20;000- rubles; compared with the previous 16,000
old model could be produced for 4,000 rubles-
and-is-supposed to-be-replaced-by a-new-car-call-ed tha Volga:. -
ECONOMIC MATTERS
:2-7. In summer 1956, ru4ors spread around Riga to the effect that economic con-
ditions in the USSR had become notab1 arse, and a real dahger of
inflation was in the offing. This was attributed to the increased purchasing
power of the population and decrease in availability of consumer goods. Such
-
~
-3~ -n 1955-1956-there-were--signs of- -unemployment- becoming apparent-in Latvtba.
The price of --private--labor---tended- to_ de.cline..-Previously,- -a construction works
4
rumors als
o
spread among Party members.
{who did odd jobs after working hours and during his vacation,. received 50
I._ rubles per day, but IllM such workers now receive 30 rubles per day. On the
3astethberg in Riga is a bulletin board, in the open square, on which informa-
tion regarding the labor market is iven? the board pr
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work offers and there was seldom anyone standing around the board. Nowadays
- - - - ---- - - - -25X1
there are few openings posted on the board, and there is always a group of
people standing around it.
AGRICULTURE
-was disastrous-as far--as -harvestwas-concerned-.-- -Large--qu
t ties
-The grain-harvest was :-average in- mLatvia this-year-The cold, wet summer
the LrAC61-1-
?
'of hay rotted in the fields. because they clot be -covered. As fodder
Soviet
production inALatvia, even under favorable weather conditions, has never reache"
notable
the required level, a4decrease in the cattle population can be expected during
this winter. Another factor having an unfavoroxle effect on cattle population
is the new decree on increased taxation of milk cows kept in cities, as many
- -- - -" -- owners of cows now plan to dispose of their axiimals. i The city cows are
Long the-best--kept in--Latvia: Kolkhoz-cattle-are-generally-in--mach-poorer- -
condition and- delivermuch less milk than city_cows, The forced-cultivation
of maize carried out in Latvia in 1955 was a complete failure, in spite of the
hot summers and the harvest wad far below expectations. This year cultivation
was not forced, and the area under, cultivation decreased sharply.
was
A 16 decree,\enacted last yea _, the kolkhoz administrations the right
o pay out their members advances on their share the prodne~is ( he
roceeds- were --previusly -pa-id out- only- once-a-year, --at-the--end of the fiscal-
and to decide, hanand how much land is to go to private owners.
_ yea,r)_ -The intention -of-- this decree- tms-to. arouse the--interest of_ kolkhozniki
in tore prosperity of the economy, and to make them perceptibly dependable on
the administration. Previously it was true that the administration had no
portion of the profits. As the large majority of kolkhoz functioned misera
- bly, the profits were slight and Mlllllll~ didn't inspire anyone to work. A vic-
no
- - - - ----- ous- circle--came-into-being=since- - ne--worked or-worked only a little,
,profits-were- lo-w..,--and.-since-profits-were.- .poor-,--no_one_was -encouraged-- to -work. -
BAs far as can be determined, the purpose of the decree Las been_achieved.-_-
Although modest
some improvement in the position of collective economy is
,
to be noted here and there. Whether it will last, and extend to all kolkhozy,
remains to be seen. Signs of improvement are noticeable here and there, but
the situation in general is a? Qfleore.
, Fa
HTIAI
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CONRRDFNTI -- , L/-
compulsion. It is said to be possible to get out of such an assignment, tho4.
with difficulties. on departure, passports are picked up, but there have
members_are__direct.ed to.the-work-by their_organizations,-more or less- under
V
The transport of workers from Latvia to the-N4 Lands Area in Kazakhstan
and West Siberia, as well as coal mines of the Ukraine and construction work
MOVEMENT TO THE NEW LANDS AREA
in East Siberia, has increased sharply this year. Mostly it is volunteers
who take up this work, end predominantly Russians It-is generally said in
drive
-Riga -that- the-amt-is-directed- -ma.inly-toward -the- -Russians. --Party -and- -Komsomol
been a number of individuals who were able to
return to Latvia soon./7
advisable for one reason or
another to change their place of residence, or those to whom the relatively
-freer -andd-less-restricted lifer-in-the fit} Lands--sounds better than life at -
home,-and--these-make- up-the--majority-of--the -volunteers.--_-Some .take--off for the
unknown purely--for the adventure.
The volunteers are individuals who find it
The harvest in the / Lands is said to have been quite good.last year.
However, a lot of it is said to have been lost because of lack of transport.
This year the harvest is supposed to. be even better, and it is asserted that
transport facilities are in a better position to handle the sob. It is not
will handle the job successfully.
impossible that they --- - - - --- -- -
twice at the Popov Radio Factory. StakhaVovite is an outdated term which has
been replaced with the phrase "pirmrindnieks", or first-class worker. The new
designation is applied to persons who work not only more than the others, 1
--- Exploitation--o-f--workers continues undim n shed in industry.-Norms-are----
_ generally reviewed every-year,--and always raised. Last winter nibrms were raise
from the standpoint of norms, but also better. The pirmrindnieki have the right
to deliver their work without submitting it to technical -examination.-
1"STATE ? LOAN
The stateLoan-requirment-hasbeen .rgised somewhat this year. The lowest
norms, three weeks' wages,-may be paid only by those persons earning no more
than 400 rubles monthly. The new pension law has received general acceptance.
---- ----- ---
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION CNaH
'AL
The construction of a, to replace the pont.nn
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C~NNF!DENT! J. r
25X1
d set up in two other j aces as bridges, first, from the right bank of the
,oved sligliy northward, will be taken apart after the new bridge is completed,
bridge is well under way. All stanchions bit one are finished, and the roadway
is under construction from the left bank. The pontoOn bridge, which has been
,
-Heft-bank; at -the-end-of - Oskara--iela-, and- second, from Tvaiku niela to -Kundzin
augava s o m e w h e r e in the M o s c o w S u b u r b , to Zaku ala
and from there to the
ala,_ Ther_e_-i.s-.also--.something-in_ the-wind_about-building_a-bridge . across the
---railroad-bridge-has--been-built oirer-the-ing River-near-the -Rigas- Audums Facto-
augava north of the Gorki,,`ridge,to end at the cement factory on the left
L The question of whether or'not theGorkik,,~ridge, which is too narrow and
eak for traffic, will be left up after completion of the new bridge, is not
won. It appears that this question has not been decided. Anew. massive-
a branch of t
-in_order to-carry/_the_Riga-Valka.-railroad-line.over_the--river.This branch
cads to the new thermal electric power,station and serves to supply the statio
with peat from the Zedal Peat Plant at Valka.
The construction of a concrete bridge-over the Lielupe River-at Ka n
_ciems, at the point wher-e-the 'hi:ghwzy from K''ileiems touches-xon the- Lielupe,
also said to have begun. At least the investigative work has been done it
- --The--extension-of the--diesel-factory-continues,-a nd-a-number---of-workshops.-hav
been added. The construction of the power plant on the Daugava at Plavinas is
has been deciddd to build a new bus station in Riga near the kolkhoz skyscraper
but no work has been done on it as yet. On the Morison Mountain in Baldone an
said--to be-under way already._
BIER-CONSTRUCTION'
astronomical observatory will be built for the Academy of- Sciences.
COMMUNICATIONS-WITH-OTHER-COUNTRIES- -- - -
In summer 1956, -excursions-to foreign -countries -were undertaken from the
Soviet Union forthe first time ,_.and_a few Latvians -took part. These trips
were publicized widely, just as tourist in general is publicized now. The ex-
cursions were organized by Inturist, and anyone wishing to take part had to
a person was allowed to go. It is not true that onl o fists were given
apply there. After a short time, an answer was received saying whether or not
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permission to go.
sion to go on the trips.
-The-trips >t not expensive-the European tour
are
stood_on -a- good-footing- with the-Communists
Kalnins,- kmmc-the European -trip; heir not- 2-Party -member, btrb- he snap- always
was refused permission to take
?Yiag in summer 1956. For example, the famous ~atvian/painter, Ed.
several non-Corn unist~ (received permis-
only more prominent personalities received permission to go bn the European
ours marine 25X1
costAK only 1400 rubles per person. Participants had to take special courses
in deportment and equip themselves for the trip.according to the instructions
of the bureau (Inturist), which cost more than the whole trip did,
fox furs-created quite a; stirt-in-t"Yie straets of -Paris: Latvia is -not-- quite -
-as-tightl-y-seal-ed-ll lN;lt-off--f-rom--abroad-,-and-it -is--now-admitted- fairly
often that eyen thecapita,listiccountries have made many advances, which the
Soviet Union is obliggd to recognize. Foreign technical journals are displaye
now in libraries--e.g., in the library of the Academy of Sciences iniiRigz.
-- - --- ---- for-
It is also permitted for indivisuals to subscribe to foreign journals,
the time being only _ - __
those of Satellite countries. Both scientific and gim belles
efface works -from EstbGerma`ny are now sold inrRiga, and ire very-popular;-as
hey--are-less--colorless-and-more-interesting- than-
the-native-product.--Russian
25X1
medical journals are not seen too often in Latvia.
There is a large demand in Riga for foreign fashion magazines, which canno
be purchased there, and are acquired only from private parcels received from
abroad. An indivmdual having a foreign -ashion magazine was trying to make a
long-distance- call-in Riga-in--summer-l956-;----With the thought of speeding up
thwservice-and-going-ahead.of_others_who_were_waiting to make calls, he let
one- of_the ope. rators- look--at it. The result was that all the operators gathe
ed around the magazine and started copying the patterns, so no one could get
a call placed.for an hour. t , -
ISCELLANEOUS 25X1
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JIMS It is said that the Russian women dressed up in long silk dresses and silve
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rVDEN1 TSAL-1-7 -
a
For the first time in a long time, a IM of/subscribers was published
in 1956. in Riga. It differs from previous telephone books innthat a number
MISCELLANEOUS
_-directory telephone
of telephone numbers previously considered secret were published. E.@., the
-the sobering-up station is located near the kolkhoz market, and only persons
found falling-down--drunk-in the--streets-are-admitted there.- Treatment-there
costs _ 40_ rubles per_day._____
numbeisof the serum station and the Sobering-up station were considered secret;
In the Daugava and the outlet of the Lielupe into Riga Bay, navigation
directions and lights were placed this year-they were not there last year.
In Meza Parks, or the Park of Cultuee and Rest, a children's railway has
been built. It is a true copy of the real thing, with station buildings,
-__-_Apar_t-_from_scarce_items_which_ibne_either_ does without,- or-- gets;
seldom, expensively, and in very po!r_quality, e.g, wool material, shoes, and
the
stockings, J' commoditjms situation in Latvia can be considered bear~Lble.?
LIV--ING-EXPENSES------
end is said to have cost 3 million rubles.
The relatively favorable situation which existed during Malenkov's tule has
not returned. since. The dominant trait in the commodity supply is the
milk delivery also AMIRM, while milk was readily available during the summer
the bread problem was especially bad,_fis bread was ordered from the city, and-
had fallen down
irregular delivery. At times a certain commodity, sugar. for example, is
avail-able-inn abundance-,and--theri there suddenly is rio -suhar to be had for'-a
while,---In--Octoberl956,--there-was-little-bread to-be had; in the countryside,
I----sugar has vanished from the market, sausages are few and far between. In
summer the supply situation was rather tolerable, but in October it became a
good deal worse.
-Cheap poor-quality -wool materials-are-available: -So are shoes in the
higher-pr-ice-range- 350 for-men,--450--for-ladies,---which--are--rather- good. - The --
year, and cement is practically . This is reflected in the
chronic lack of construction materials worsened consider_ablj< b4-over-r -the-last
Iblack market, and the prices demanded by truck drivers for building materials
higher than last year. The demand for building materials i
mnnv nnw_$nmi 1 v dwA11,'_nLTs are being built in the Riga area,
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CONF!DENTI
for which one is given land by the city administration. Materials supplied by
truck drivers are all stolen.
Item:
Eggs
ugar --
!Rye bread
ite bread
Salt ;Cream of wheat
Sausage
L"hocola.te -candy- -
Chinese silk
Cement
Wool material-----
Ggsoline
Taxi ride
-I--
LPhaltinfd of roads
1
Bus (purchased by city
Official: Black market:
56 k. each 1.5-2 r each
7-10-r/kg 13-16 r/kg
r/kg --
r/kg (hard to get
1-2 r/kg
7 r/kg
10 r/kg
12-28 r/kg
30-80 r/kg
100-500-r/meter
60-80 _r/m
550 r/sub m
300-400 r/ton
400-500 r/cu m
1200 r (Cost only 800 r at first, the
-went--down-to_600 ri)-_-- - - -
800-2200 r
1 r/liter
50 k/i
1.5 r/km
1 r/km
500,000
100,000200,000 r/km
-C IMFIDENII A L--
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